Janesville's Thanksgiving Pause: Your Essential Guide to City Services This Holiday

Well, here we are, already looking ahead to Thanksgiving, aren't we? It feels like just yesterday we were debating pumpkin spice everything, and now Janesville is gearing up for its annual holiday pause. And, honestly, if you're like me, you're probably wondering, "What's actually open? When's the bus running? And please, for the love of pie, when is the trash getting picked up?"

The city, in its wisdom, has just dropped the full rundown of service changes for the Thanksgiving holiday in 2025. So, before you finalize those travel plans or start brining the turkey, let's just quickly go through what you need to know, because nobody wants a holiday surprise when it comes to vital city services, right?

First off, those official doors. Janesville City Hall, along with pretty much all administrative offices, will be taking a well-deserved break. Expect them closed not just on Thanksgiving Day itself, which falls on Thursday, November 27th this year, but also on Friday, November 28th. So, if you've got city business, plan ahead; you won't be able to pop in until Monday.

Libraries too, you might ask? Indeed. Our beloved Hedberg Public Library will also follow suit, locking its doors on both Thursday, November 27th, and Friday, November 28th. A perfect excuse, perhaps, to curl up with a book you already own or, dare I say, maybe even talk to your family for a bit! They'll be back to regular hours come Saturday, November 29th.

Now, for those of us who rely on public transport – and that's a fair number, you could say – the Janesville Transit System (JTS) has a slightly nuanced schedule. Wednesday, November 26th, will see a modified service, so do check their specific times if you're planning a mid-week trip. But come Thanksgiving Day, Thursday the 27th, buses will not be running at all. Nada. They'll spring back to their normal rhythm on Friday, November 28th. Important stuff, that.

And then there's the big one for most households: trash and recycling. Nobody wants lingering holiday debris, do they? So, here’s the scoop: there will be no solid waste collection on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27th. This means if your usual collection day is Thursday, it'll shift to Friday, November 28th. And, naturally, if Friday is your usual day, your bins will be emptied on Saturday, November 29th. Just remember that one-day delay; it's a classic holiday shift.

Other facilities are also making adjustments. The Janesville Senior Center, a hub for so many, will be closed on both November 27th and 28th. Golf enthusiasts, meanwhile, will find Blackhawk Golf Course also taking a break on those same two days. Good for them, honestly.

The Janesville Ice Arena, however, offers a bit more variety. It’ll be open with specific, perhaps limited, hours on Wednesday, November 26th. It's totally closed on Thanksgiving Day, the 27th, which makes sense. But then, it reopens with modified hours for Friday, November 28th, Saturday, November 29th, and Sunday, November 30th. Always best to check their schedule directly if you're planning to hit the ice.

But wait, it's not all closures and schedule shifts! The holiday weekend isn't just about food and rest, after all. Mark your calendars for Friday, November 28th, at 6:00 p.m. — that's when Downtown Janesville lights up with its much-anticipated Holiday Lighted Parade. A perfect way, really, to kick off the festive season and perhaps even work off a little of that Thanksgiving feast. So, while some services pause, the holiday spirit certainly won't.